eirias: (Default)
eirias ([personal profile] eirias) wrote2008-06-04 08:27 am

Beantown tourism

So my plan while in Boston has generally been "be a tourist while normal people work, then hang out with folks in the evening." This worked well yesterday (the Arboretum is very pretty; and then I learned to play mah jongg!) and I figured it would work pretty well today, too, since usually when I come to Boston I am not primarily doing touristy things, so clearly there should be plenty of things to see. But, er, looking at the "things to do in Boston" page, it turns out I have seen rather more of them than I realized! At various points in the last ten years, I have visited the ISG art museum, the science museum, the public garden and Boston Common, the markets at Faneuil Hall, and the shops on Newbury Street. It'd be nice to walk the Freedom Trail, but it looks sort of wet today. What else should I see? (If anyone wants to come along, bonus!)

[identity profile] nonnihil.livejournal.com 2008-06-04 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
If the wet bothers you, you're liable to be fairly out of luck for my favorite things -- walking the esplanade or Memorial Drive along the Charles.

Notably missing from your list were the Aquarium (though that's better with a group and I think the penguin exhibit may still be under repair) and the MIT Museum (small but often quite a lot of fun in a nerdy way). And of course "slightly damp" is the best possible weather for a Duck Tour, the ultimate in tourist-ism.

[identity profile] drspiff.livejournal.com 2008-06-04 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
My first thought was a pilgrimage to Fenway but it's probably an evening game if the Red Sucks are in town today.
cos: (Default)

[personal profile] cos 2008-06-04 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
http://boston.going.com/ lists a lot of ongoing things like museum exhibits, in addition to evening events.

[identity profile] ukelele.livejournal.com 2008-06-04 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
The MFA is always nice, although if I'm there anyway I'm likely to be more tempted by the ISG, which is almost next door, and cheaper, and awesome.

The new ICA (institute for contemporary art) is well-spoken-of and its current exhibit sounds neat, though I've never been.

I think one of these places has a Wednesday deal.

Um, Tomb?

[identity profile] narya.livejournal.com 2008-06-04 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
The aquarium is cool. I've heard that the Peabody-Essex museum is cool and accessible from the commuter rail though I haven't been there myself.

[identity profile] silentmachine.livejournal.com 2008-06-04 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I went to the Arboretum, too! I ended up taking a nap there, it was so peaceful.

I don't know what else you should do, but have fun!

[identity profile] ovariance.livejournal.com 2008-06-05 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Boston Harbor Islands. Inexpensive. Picturesque (you get to see Deer Island from most).

Also, Fort Independence, which is attached to the mainland.

Oh, and the Boston Public Library.